Business in brief

Citizen Staff Reports

08/09/12

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation’s largest children’s literacy nonprofit, has selected the Greater Richmond ARC’s Infant & Child Services (ICDS) program to receive a $396 grant for free book distributions and literacy activities benefitting Richmond area children and their families. The funds were raised during RIF’s 2011 Be Book Smart campaign in partnership with Macy’s. The grant money will allow ICDS to meet one of its program goals, which is to provide each child in the program one book per month to help build their home library.

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Henrico Doctors’ Hospital Labor and Delivery Unit is the first and only hospital in the United States to earn Joint Commission certification for its Induction of Labor Program. The Labor and Delivery Unit underwent a rigorous on-site survey and a team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated the hospital for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients and families, including leadership, quality of care and medication management. The hospital was recognized for putting into place processes and procedures for advanced safety standards, pain management related to induction of labor, and standardization of labor induction practices.

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Scents of Serenity Organic Spa, located in Glen Allen, is now offering Eminence, a new line of organic makeup. All products are made with fresh fruit pulps, plants and exotic spices from organic environments. Eminence has a product for every skin type, including sensitive and aged skin. The organic skincare aligns with owner Melanie Mueller’s vision of a health and wellness spa, providing free health workshops, all out of a historic farmhouse at 3016 Mountain Rd. Scents of Serenity Spa is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment. For details, call 277-4498 or visit http://www.scentsofserenityspa.com.

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A group of five Richmond-based entrepreneurs have founded a new social payment network called PaidThx. The founders are Thomas Eide (CEO), Rob Kirchner (COO), James Rhodes (CTO), Hugo Camacho (executive director of finance) and Ryan Ricigliano (executive director of user experience). With PaidThx, users will no longer have to carry around cash or a checkbook – just their smartphone. The new technology works similarly to online banking tools that are in the market today with one major difference: PaidThx users can send and receive money with all of their contacts, no matter where they bank. The network, set to launch to the public later this year, can be accessed from a smartphone, computer, or popular social media sites.

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The “Fiske Guide to Colleges,” a leading college guidebook, has selected the University of Richmond for its 2013 edition of the 320 “best and most interesting colleges in the United States, Canada and Great Britain.” Richmond made two special lists in this year's book for having strong programs in business and international studies. The guidebook selects colleges based primarily on academic quality. It includes information about each college’s academics, social life, student body, financial aid, campus setting, housing, food and extracurricular activities. Richmond has been chosen for the Fiske Guide in all 26 years the book has been published.

Alpha Wealth Advisors, a comprehensive financial service firm founded by Troy L. Flinn, has opened its office in the New York Life Building at 4435 Waterfront Drive, Suite 203 in Innsbrook on July 1. Alpha Wealth Advisors provides wealth management services for individuals and small business owners, as well as a wide range of other services. Thomas Dozier, a 1980 graduate of the University of Richmond, joins Flinn as director of client development.

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Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer recently represented The Cellular Connection in the leasing of 3,573 square feet at Staples Mill Retail Center at 7320 Staples Mill Rd. Two additional locations will be opened in Chester and Amelia. The Cellular Connection is the largest Verizon Premium Wireless Retailer in the United States with more than 600 locations across 26 states.

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The National Science Foundation has awarded a three-year, $290,000 grant to Carol Parish, professor of chemistry at the University of Richmond, for molecular research related to alternative fuels, anticancer antibiotics and graphene nanodevices. Parish is collaborating with Hans Lischka, of Texas Tech University, on the project, “Multireference Studies of Organic Polyradicals, Radical Reactions and Graphene Nanoribbons.” They expect results from their research to hold significant promise for advancing the fields of multireference theoretical chemistry, mechanistic organic chemistry, materials design and drug optimization. Parish has taught at Richmond since 2005.

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Zinga Frozen Yogurt at Willow Lawn will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 11 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jackson, Q94 radio personality, will host a live “instant beach” remote broadcast from noon to 2 p.m. Two free tickets to Justin Bieber’s “Believe” concert in November will be given away during that time. Zinga is located at 1700 Willow Lawn Dr., next to Jason’s Deli in the Shops at Willow Lawn. For details, call 288-0206 or visit http://www.facebook.com/zinga.willowlawn

The Henricopolis Soil & Water Conservation District will sponsor a tree seedling giveaway on April 2 at Dorey Park Shelter 1 from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on April 3 at Hermitage High School parking lot from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Bare-root tree seedlings are available to Henrico County residents free of charge for the spring planting season.

The following seedling species will be available: apple, kousa dogwood, red maple, river birch, red osier dogwood, loblolly pine, sycamore, bald cypress, white dogwood and redbud. Quantities are limited and trees are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each participant is allowed up to 10 trees total, not to include more than five of the same species. > Read more.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) recently launched an online directory of permitted bingo games played in Virginia. Listed by locality, more than 400 regular games are available across the state. The directory will be updated monthly and can be found on VDACS’ website at http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/gaming/index.shtml.

“Many Virginia charities, including volunteer rescue squads, booster clubs and programs to feed the homeless, use proceeds from charitable gaming as a tool to support their missions, said Michael Menefee, program manager for VDACS’ Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs. > Read more.

Richmonders Jim Morgan and Dan Stackhouse were married at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Lakeside Mar. 7 month after winning the Say I Do! With OutRVA wedding contest in February. The contest was open to LGBT couples in recognition of Virginia’s marriage equality law, which took effect last fall. The wedding included a package valued at $25,000.

Morgan and Stackhouse, who became engaged last fall on the day marriage equality became the law in Virginia, have been together for 16 years. They were selected from among 40 couples who registered for the contest. The winners were announced at the Say I Do! Dessert Soiree at the Renaissance in Richmond in February. > Read more.

Two events this weekend benefit man’s best friend – a rabies clinic, sponsored by the Glendale Ruritan Club, and an American Red Cross Canine First Aid & CPR workshop at Alpha Dog Club. The fifth annual Shelby Rocks “Cancer is a Drag” Womanless Pageant will benefit the American Cancer Society and a spaghetti luncheon on Sunday will benefit the Eastern Henrico Ruritan Club. Twin Hickory Library will also host a used book sale this weekend with proceeds benefiting The Friends of the Twin Hickory Library. For all our top picks this weekend, click here! > Read more.

In a spot that could be easily overlooked is a surprising, and delicious, Japanese restaurant. In a tiny nook in the shops at the corner of Ridgefield Parkway and Pump Road sits a welcoming, warm and comfortable Asian restaurant called Ichiban, which means “the best.”

The restaurant, tucked between a couple others in the Gleneagles Shopping Center, was so quiet and dark that it was difficult to tell if it was open at 6:30 p.m. on a Monday. When I opened the door, I smiled when I looked inside. > Read more.

Cinderella is the latest from Disney’s new moviemaking battle plan: producing live-action adaptations of all their older classics. Which is a plan that’s had questionable results in the past.

Alice in Wonderland bloated with more Tim Burton goth-pop than the inside of a Hot Topic. Maleficent was a step in the right direction, but the movie couldn’t decide if Maleficent should be a hero or a villain (even if she should obviously be a villain) and muddled itself into mediocrity.

Cinderella is much better. Primarily, because it’s just Cinderella. No radical rebooting. No Tim Burton dreck. It’s the 1950 Disney masterpiece, transposed into live action and left almost entirely untouched. > Read more.

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5th Wall Theatre will present “The Human Terrain” by Jennifer Blackmer March 19 to April 11 at HATTheatre, 1124 Westbriar Dr. In this compelling military thriller, Mabry Hoffman, an anthropologist…
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